Introduction and differences of UK / NA release:

Risen has been out for the 360 in the UK since October, 2009. There's also an Asian region-free version, which is the one I'm currently playing. I do believe that the PC version also shares this release date.

You're probably asking yourself, "Why did you order it when the game is coming to North America Feb 25th?" and I'd have to say it's a fine question. Well, I'd been waiting for months for them to announce a NA release date, which was TBA 2010, and they did, albeit 2 days after I placed my order for the import. /facepalm.

It arrived at the same time as my Mass Effect 2 copy, and oddly enough, I've been spending more time with Risen.

So far I'd say I'm about 25 hours in the game, but I've decided to start the game after about 15 hours in. Despite all the really low review scores for the 360 version, I'm having a lot of fun. A single patch was released for this version not long ago, and although I hadn't played the game pre-patch, I have to say I'm pleasantly surprised so far. Many reviewers complained that the game was very dark, but a brightness slider has been added in the patch I speak of and will no doubt be part of the improvements to be added in the upcoming NA version.

As you are probably already aware, Risen is developed by Piranha Bytes, makers of the Gothic series - a series of action/RPG games released for the PC and known for their difficulty and lack of "hand holding". Although Piranha Bytes no longer hold the Gothic license, risen can definitely be taken as a spiritual successor, and many of those who've played Gothic 3 say it's an improvement.

Wizardbox is responsible for the 360 port of Risen, and I have to admit, it isn't the best port I've ever played. However, even in its current state (before the NA tweaks I mean) it's very playable. There are a couple of really bad textures in some areas, but otherwise the engine runs fine. A few occasional frame rate dips, but nothing compared to Sacred 2, Divinity II or Two Worlds. Most of the time, Risen runs smoothly, but it's not a game that will blow you away graphically, at least not on the 360. The draw distance isn't mind blowing, and the game painfully blurs LOD textures and distant trees / foliage to preserve frame rate. While most console games graphically pale in comparison to their PC counterparts, Risen is even lower on this scale because of the not-so-great port job done by our good friends at Wizardbox. So, I warn you now, the game isn't gorgeous, but it's definitely not as bad as some make it to be.

The NA version of the game, release date 25th of Feb later this month, is rumoured to have some fixes in the interface / controls / textures department. When I asked the publisher (Deep Silver) on their forums if they planned to patch the other versions to match, they couldn't make any promises. They merely said that they were aware that it would be in demand, and that they'll do their best...

This leads me to believe that it's most likely not going to happen, which will undoubtedly anger a lot of UK gamers and importers. As I said, I already own the import, but honestly, I don't really care if the NA version is better because this version of the game is very much playable despite what many reviewers are saying. I have not run into a single game breaking bug, nor any sort of crashes in my 25 hours of playing. And while the graphics in some areas make me cringe, I would not consider the game to be ugly.

The meat & potatoes - Gameplay:

Risen is by no means an easy game. Combat takes a while to get used to, and button mashing is a sure way to spend time staring at loading screens. Even if switched to the easy setting, Risen, specially at first, isn't a breeze. I highly recommend going over to the deep silver forums and checking out some basic hints and tips for beginners if you find yourself getting frustrated. Just be warned that you may run into some spoilers in the hints & tips section.

You're thrown into the world (or Island) of Risen after the ship you're on gets wrecked, and awake on the island shore. From here, you have to piece together the story and politics of the island and eventually, join a faction of your choice. I don't want to spoil anything, so I'm not going to go into the story or anything.

There's no character creation screen when you start the game. You have to build your own character slowly and surely by progressing through the game. Once you gain a level, you earn "learning points" that will allow you to visit a trainer of your choice and pay gold to level up a particular skill. That's right, you need to pay gold to increase skills aside from actually leveling up. Most hate this, but it doesn't bother me, I just see it as a higher difficulty and it makes sense in Risen's gameworld. Why would these people share their knowledge for free?

Skills can range from weapon skills, such as sword, axe, bow and crossbow, to increasing your strength or learning how to pick locks, pickpocket and sneak. Later on, you will meet NPCs that can train you in magic skills, but to be able to cast some of the non-offensive magic without needing any scrolls or other expendable materials requires you to become a mage. If this is really important to you, I recommend reading up on it before you progress too far in the game. Most NPCs at the beginning will give you warning signs if you bother to listen to them. I highly recommend paying attention.

As you explore the island, you will face many enemies. Some are going to wipe the floor with you. This is how the game tells you to avoid them and come back later. There's no respawning or level-scaling done here. This is far from being an Oblivion clone. It follows a lot of old-school gaming trends, and it has a lot in common with the company's previous Gothic games. And much like Divinity II, there is little to no hand-holding. Maps have to be found or purchased. There are no quest arrows or lines to guide you on the island. You have to figure stuff out, and keeping a good repetoire of save games is highly recommended.

Doing quests is a good way to earn some gold and experience. They are fairly straightforward and a quest log is there, including character dialog, to keep you updated on what needs to be done. Several quests have many ways for you to complete them, depending on your approach and chosen skills. I like the system, it works well for the game, and NPCs aren't all friendly and willing to help you out for free. This helps with the immersion of the game, because like I said before, it makes sense for people not to go out of their way to help unless you help them back. The inhabitants of the island aren't composed of rich people. They are struggling in their lives and the fighting forces on the Island are complicating it for them. You'll know what I'm talking about once you play the game.

Conclusion:

I can't say I've played enough to give you a proper full review of the game, but hopefully this impression will answer some questions. I look forward to beating the game, and can easily see it taking me another 30+ hours to do so. While the game can be overly difficult and definitely has its frustrating moments, it makes it that much more rewarding. I look forward to seeing all of the changes the North American version of the 360 port will bring, and I hope that the gamers in the U.S. and Canada can open their minds to a different and more challenging RPG experience.